There’s a tangible magic to vinyl that streaming services just can’t replicate. It’s the ritual: sliding a record from its sleeve, the gentle weight of it in your hands, the soft crackle as the needle finds the groove. For years, I watched a new generation fall in love with this classic format, but I also saw a recurring problem. Many are lured in by cheap, all-in-one “suitcase” players that, while stylish, often deliver tinny, lifeless sound and, worse, can damage precious records with their poorly balanced tonearms. The dream of warm, analogue audio quickly sours into a disappointing reality of skipped tracks and worn-out grooves. This leaves a massive gap in the market: where do you go when you’re ready to graduate from a toy to a true turntable, but aren’t prepared to spend a fortune on a complex system of separate components? That’s the exact question we sought to answer when we brought the 1 BY ONE Bluetooth Turntable Hi-Fi System into our testing lab.
What to Consider Before Buying a Record Player System
A record player is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for unlocking the rich, detailed sound that artists intended for their music to have. It’s about an intentional listening experience, a departure from the background noise of digital playlists. The main benefit of a system like this is authenticity and quality. It provides a significant step up from entry-level players, featuring components like a magnetic cartridge and an adjustable counterweight that are essential for both superior audio fidelity and the long-term health of your vinyl collection.
The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing that exact upgrade dilemma. You’ve either started your collection and realised your current player is holding you back, or you’re a first-time buyer who has done enough research to know you should skip the suitcase models altogether. It’s for the music lover who wants a plug-and-play Hi-Fi experience with everything included in one box. However, it might not be suitable for those who are seasoned audiophiles with an established collection of high-end separates (like pre-amps, amplifiers, and passive speakers). Those users would likely prefer a component turntable, such as the Audio-Technica LP120X, which offers more granular control and upgrade paths.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Dimensions & Space: This is not a compact player. The turntable plinth and two separate bookshelf speakers require a dedicated, stable surface. You’ll need to measure your shelf or media unit to ensure the 41.8cm x 34.6cm turntable and its accompanying speakers will fit comfortably, with enough room for ventilation and operation.
- Performance & Features: Key performance indicators here are the magnetic cartridge, the adjustable counterweight, and the anti-skate system. These are not typically found on cheaper players and are critical for accurate tracking and minimising distortion. The inclusion of a solid iron platter, as opposed to lightweight plastic, is also a major factor in rotational stability and sound quality.
- Materials & Durability: The build quality is a significant differentiator at this price point. The 1 BY ONE Bluetooth Turntable Hi-Fi System features a wood enclosure for both the turntable and speakers, giving it a premium look and feel. This is a welcome departure from the plastic construction that dominates the budget end of the market, suggesting better longevity and acoustic damping.
- Ease of Use & Maintenance: While this is an “all-in-one” system, it’s not entirely plug-and-play. It requires some initial assembly, specifically balancing the tonearm and setting the counterweight. This is a one-time setup, but it’s a crucial step that beginners might find daunting. Long-term care involves regular dusting and occasional stylus cleaning or replacement.
Keeping these factors in mind, the 1 BY ONE Bluetooth Turntable Hi-Fi System stands out in several areas. You can explore its detailed specifications and current offers here.
While the 1 BY ONE Bluetooth Turntable Hi-Fi System is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:
First Impressions: Unboxing a surprisingly Premium Package
Pulling the 1 BY ONE Bluetooth Turntable Hi-Fi System from its well-protected packaging was an immediately satisfying experience. The first thing we noticed was the sheer weight of it—at nearly 10kg, it feels substantial and solid, a world away from flimsy, lightweight alternatives. The wooden finish on the turntable plinth and the matching bookshelf speakers is elegant and gives the impression of a far more expensive piece of audio equipment. As one user aptly noted, it “looks much more expensive than it is.”
Everything you need is in the box: the turntable base, the heavy iron platter, a slipmat, the counterweight, the dust cover, the two 18-watt speakers, and all the necessary cables. The initial assembly involves placing the platter on the spindle, looping the drive belt around the motor pulley, and then—the most crucial part—installing and balancing the tonearm’s counterweight. While the included paper guide is adequate, we found ourselves agreeing with several new users who recommended finding a video tutorial for the counterweight calibration. It’s a simple process once you see it done, but visual guidance makes it foolproof for a first-timer.
Key Benefits
- Excellent all-in-one Hi-Fi solution with included powered speakers
- Impressive audio quality for the price, a huge upgrade from basic players
- Premium build and aesthetic with a wood finish and solid iron platter
- Features proper audiophile adjustments like a counterweight and anti-skate
Potential Drawbacks
- Initial setup of the tonearm and counterweight can be tricky for absolute beginners
- Some users have reported inconsistencies in speed and an occasionally fussy auto-off feature
A Deep Dive into the 1 BY ONE Turntable’s Performance
A turntable can look the part, but its true value is only revealed when the needle hits the groove. We put the 1 BY ONE Bluetooth Turntable Hi-Fi System through its paces with a wide range of vinyl, from pristine 180-gram pressings of modern albums to some of our favourite worn-in classics from the 70s and 80s. Our goal was to assess every aspect of the user experience, from the initial setup to the nuanced sound quality and modern features.
Setup and Calibration: From Box to First Spin
The transition from unboxing to playing our first record was where this turntable truly showed it was a “proper” piece of Hi-Fi gear. The setup isn’t complex, but it is deliberate. After placing the heavy, reassuringly solid iron platter and fitting the belt, the main event is calibrating the tonearm. This is the step that most separates this unit from cheaper, non-adjustable players. The process involves attaching the counterweight, balancing the tonearm so it floats perfectly parallel to the platter, setting the tracking force dial to zero, and then rotating the entire weight to the recommended force for the cartridge. Finally, a small anti-skate dial is set to match.
Why is this so important? An incorrectly balanced tonearm is the number one culprit behind skipping and, over time, can cause permanent damage to your records. We found the included instructions to be functional, but we wholeheartedly concur with the user feedback suggesting a quick search for a video guide. Seeing it done visually removes all ambiguity and takes about five minutes. Once we completed this process, the results were immediately apparent. Records that were known to skip on lesser players, like a particularly dynamic Bring Me The Horizon album mentioned by one user, played flawlessly on the 1 BY ONE Bluetooth Turntable Hi-Fi System. This initial investment of time pays massive dividends in performance and peace of mind.
Sonic Performance: How Does It Actually Sound?
This is where the rubber meets the road, or rather, the diamond meets the vinyl. And we were thoroughly impressed. The combination of the Audio-Technica AT3600L moving magnet cartridge and the included 36-watt (total) powered bookshelf speakers creates a soundstage that is rich, warm, and surprisingly detailed. We spun up Adele’s “30”, and the clarity was striking; as one delighted user exclaimed after upgrading from a suitcase player, “It’s like listening to my Spotify it’s that clear and crisp!” The vocals were front and centre, the piano notes were distinct, and there was a warmth to the sound that digital sources often lack.
The bass response from the included speakers is present and punchy without being overpowering. While some audiophiles might desire a bit more low-end rumble, we found it to be well-balanced for most genres, from the driving basslines of Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumours” to the electronic beats of a Daft Punk record. Crucially, the volume can be turned up quite high without introducing significant distortion, filling our medium-sized living room with powerful, clean sound at just a quarter turn of the volume dial. For those seeking even more, the system’s built-in switchable phono pre-amp is a fantastic feature. This allows you to connect the turntable directly to an external amplifier and more powerful speakers, offering an excellent upgrade path for the future, a feature one advanced user tested with a high-end Marantz amp to great success.
Build Quality and Design: More Than Just a Pretty Face
In a world of black plastic electronics, the design of the 1 BY ONE Bluetooth Turntable Hi-Fi System is a breath of fresh air. The wooden veneer on the plinth and speakers gives it a timeless, classic look that blends beautifully into any decor. It doesn’t just look good; it feels robust and well-made. The controls have a satisfying tactile feel, and the dust cover operates smoothly.
Beneath the surface, the design choices contribute directly to the audio performance. The solid iron platter is a key component. Its weight and uniform inertial mass provide excellent rotational stability, which minimises speed fluctuations known as “wow and flutter.” This stability is crucial for pitch accuracy and is a feature typically reserved for more expensive models. The belt-drive system also helps to isolate the platter from motor vibrations, further reducing noise and ensuring the only thing you hear is the music in the grooves. This thoughtful engineering is a primary reason why this turntable sounds so much better than its price tag might suggest, and it’s a detail that truly enhances the listening experience. If you appreciate audio gear that performs as good as it looks, you can find out more about this stylish system here.
Modern Conveniences: Bluetooth and USB Recording
While the heart of the 1 BY ONE Bluetooth Turntable Hi-Fi System is its vinyl playback, it doesn’t ignore the digital world. The inclusion of Bluetooth connectivity is a highly practical feature. Pairing our smartphone was instantaneous and simple. This effectively turns the system’s excellent bookshelf speakers into a high-quality Bluetooth speaker for streaming podcasts, playlists, or any other audio from a digital device. The sound quality over Bluetooth was clear and strong, making the system a versatile centerpiece for all our audio needs, not just for vinyl sessions.
Furthermore, the USB output offers a bridge between the analogue and digital realms. By connecting the turntable to a computer with a USB cable, you can record your vinyl records directly into MP3 format. We tested this feature using the free software Audacity and found it worked seamlessly. While the quality of a digital file will never perfectly capture the nuance of the original vinyl, it’s an incredibly useful tool for digitising rare records or creating a portable version of your collection for listening on the go. It’s a thoughtful addition that adds significant value to an already feature-packed system.
What Other Users Are Saying
After our extensive testing, we dug into a broad range of user feedback to see how our experience aligned with others. The consensus is overwhelmingly positive, especially from those upgrading from entry-level “suitcase” players. One user summed it up perfectly, stating, “Coming from a suitcase player I couldn’t believe the sound.” This sentiment was echoed across dozens of reviews, with many praising the “amazing,” “clear,” and “crisp” sound quality.
The value for money is another frequently highlighted point. Many feel the product’s premium look, solid build, and audio performance far exceed its price tag. On the constructive side, the most common critique relates to the initial setup. As we also found, several first-time users struggled with balancing the counterweight using only the paper manual and recommended finding a video tutorial. A smaller number of users reported issues with quality control, such as the turntable running slightly slow or needing cartridge realignment out of the box. Another minor annoyance mentioned is the auto-power-off feature, which some find turns the unit off too quickly when idle, requiring it to be manually switched back on.
How Does the 1 BY ONE Compare to the Alternatives?
The 1 BY ONE Bluetooth Turntable Hi-Fi System occupies a competitive space, but it holds its own very well. Here’s how it stacks up against three notable alternatives.
1. Shuman Retro 8-in-1 Music Centre MC-250BT
The Shuman Retro Music Centre is less of a dedicated turntable system and more of a complete nostalgia machine. Its main appeal is its versatility, offering a CD player, cassette deck, AM/FM radio, and USB playback in addition to vinyl. If you have a diverse collection of physical media and want one single unit to play everything, the Shuman is an attractive option. However, this jack-of-all-trades approach comes at a cost to pure vinyl performance. The tonearm and cartridge are more basic than the 1 BY ONE’s, meaning it won’t deliver the same level of audio fidelity or record care. Choose the Shuman for its features; choose the 1 BY ONE for superior vinyl sound quality.
2. Audio-Technica LP120XUSB Direct-Drive Turntable
The Audio-Technica LP120XUSB represents the next logical step up for someone getting serious about the hobby. This is a turntable-only unit, meaning you will need to supply your own amplifier and speakers. It’s a direct-drive model (favoured by DJs for its quick start-up time) and offers more advanced features like pitch control and a stroboscopic platter. The LP120XUSB is aimed at the enthusiast who wants to build a custom component Hi-Fi system over time. It offers a higher performance ceiling than the 1 BY ONE, but with a significantly higher total cost of entry once you factor in the required additional components.
3. ANGELS HORN Bluetooth Turntable System
The ANGELS HORN system is perhaps the most direct competitor to the 1 BY ONE Bluetooth Turntable Hi-Fi System. It offers a very similar proposition: a belt-drive turntable with an AT-3600L cartridge, adjustable counterweight, and included powered bookshelf speakers. The core functionality and target audience are nearly identical. The choice between them may come down to aesthetics, brand preference, or subtle differences in speaker power and design. The ANGELS HORN often features a more minimalist, modern design, whereas the 1 BY ONE has a more classic, retro-wood finish. Both are excellent choices for a first serious turntable setup.
Our Final Verdict: Is the 1 BY ONE Turntable System Worth It?
After weeks of listening, testing, and comparing, our conclusion is clear: the 1 BY ONE Bluetooth Turntable Hi-Fi System is an outstanding product that hits a fantastic sweet spot in the market. It provides a genuine, high-fidelity vinyl experience in a single, beautifully designed, and easy-to-use package. It successfully bridges the vast gap between cheap, record-damaging players and expensive, complex component systems. The audio quality is warm, detailed, and powerful enough to fill a room, representing a monumental leap for anyone upgrading from a basic player.
While the initial counterweight setup may require a five-minute video tutorial for newcomers, the effort is rewarded with flawless playback and the peace of mind that your records are being treated with care. For the budding vinyl collector, the returning enthusiast, or anyone looking for a stylish and superb-sounding centerpiece for their living room, this system is one of the best all-in-one solutions available today. It offers tremendous value and a perfect entry point into the wonderful world of high-quality analogue audio.
If you’ve decided the 1 BY ONE Bluetooth Turntable Hi-Fi System is the right fit, you can check its current price and purchase it here.